Vacuum system of manufacturing chocolate shells



Manch 2, 1954 A C. J. c ovERT YE'r/AL VACUUM SYSTEM 0F MANUFACTURING CHOCOLATE S'IELLS Filed Feb. 2, 1951 aqgfr llll ||||v I.' l'lll Patented Mar. 2, 1954 VACUlVI SYSTEM F MANUFACTURING CHOCOLATE SHELLS Claude J. Covert, Glen Rock, and Joseph L. Raffetto, Jr., Ramsey, N. J., assignors to Racine Confectioners Machiner corporation of Wisconsin y Co., Racine, Wis., a

Application February 2, 1951, Serial No. 209,068

The invention herein disclosed relates to the manufacture of chocolate shells for lled candies.

Objects of the invention are to simplify such manufacture and to eliminate objectionable features experienced under present procedures.

Particularly it is a purpose of the invention to eliminatev the need for inverting the molds to pour off excess chocolate and then to scrapethe mold faces Aclear of spilled chocolate.

These objects are accomplished in the present invention through utilization of suction to lift and carry away excess chocolate from the mold cavities.

Other desirable objects attained by this system and the novel features of invention involved therein are set forth or will appear in the course of the following specification.

The drawing accompanying and forming part of the specication illustrates a present commercial embodiment of the invention but structure and arrangement may be modified and changed as regards this illustration, all within the true intent and broad scope of the invention as hereinafter defined and claimed.

Fig. 1 in the drawing is a partly diagrammatic c and sectional view of one form of apparatus for carrying out the invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged broken sectional showing a filled mold cavity, with the chocolate shell partly congealed and the mouth of the companion suction nozzle about to meet the surface of the liquid chocolate in the center of the mold cavity.

Figs. 3 and 4 are similar views illustrating successive stages of entry of a suction nozzle in the body of chocolate in the mold cavity, the first of these views showing the upper portion of the shell relieved of liquid chocolate and the second showing the nozzle at the lowest point and the shell practically emptied of liquid chocolate.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Fig. 1, multiple cavity molds l, which have been previously lled in a depositing machine, are carried by a conveyor 8 into position beneath suction nozzles 9 which, either by lifting of the mold or lowering of the nozzles, are caused to enter the mold cavities.

For mechanical reasons it may be simplest to lift the molds to the nozzles, with results approximately as illustrated in Figs. 2, 3 and 4.

The molds may be chilled or tempered so that the chocolate deposited therein in plastic or liquid state will congeal against the mold wall to initiate a shell, approximately as indicated at I3 in Fig. 2.

1 claim. (c1. iov-sr The suction is on when the nozzle meets the surface of the liquid in the mold cavity so that, as shown in Fig. 3, the liquid is lifted without `spilling or other disturbance, leaving the shell in place against the mold wall.

Fig. 4 shows how the nozzle may enter the mold proximately equal to the desired thickness of the wall of the shell.

This procedure effects a quick, splash-free emptying of the shell, leaving the latter practically dry and free of liquid chocolate, ready to receive the filling material and to be closed, ac cording to usual or possible special lling and closing operations.

The suction nozzles 9 are shown as carried by a suction manifold I I spaced to register with the cavities i2 in the mold.

The suction pipe I3 extending from the manifold to the suction tank I4 may be suitably steam or water-jacketed, as indicated at I5, to keep the chocolate sufficiently liquid for flow purposes.

A vacuum pump is indicated at IE, suitably connected at I'I with the Vacuum tank I4, and a chocolate pump is shown at I8 with a connection at I9 for carrying oil the chocolate removed by suction, to the tempering kettle 2li which, through line 2l, may supply the depositing machine or machines.

The vacuum tank M is shown as having a controllable air vent 22 for the upper chamber 23 and a controllable air vent 24 forv the .lower chamber 25. An external valved by-pass 26 is shown connecting the upper and lower chambers to transfer chocolate collecting in the upper chamber to the lower chamber, from whence it is removed by the chocolate pump. This tank, like other portions of the apparatus, may be suitably steam or water-jacketed as at 21 to keep the chocolate in proper fluid condition.

The air vent valves at 22 and 2li for the upper and lower chambers 23 and 25, and the valve in the by-pass 26 between these chambers may be regulated as required to enable proper action of the vacuum pump IS, separation and removal of air from the upper chamber 23 and flow of the chocolate from the upper chamber down into the lower chamber and to the chocolate pump I8.

The wall thickness, strength and other characteristics of the shells may be governed by control of mold temperature, time and other related factors, including suction, volume and pressure conditions.

With suction on as the nozzles approach the mold cavities, the liquid, free of the congealing wail forming layer, will be sucked up and withdrawn, this action continuing progressively as the nozzles lower down toward the bottom of the 5 mold cavities. In thisJnannei; free..1iquid is, drawn toward the center of thef mold cavity; away from the surrounding face surface of the mold, to keep the top surface clear and free of.,

any excess material. 10

With the elimination of anyfneedforturningr the molds over or scraping them, the actionkmaybe relatively rapid and continnouanresultingfin. ae,

high rate of production and a uniformhigh.grade` product.

With the savings in time accomplished by the more nearly continuous operation, expenses andv labor costs are reduced.

Details of the conveyor for carrying the gmolds to the suction nozzles andthe means for lifting 2 the.. mo1ds..up.. tov and over.. the` moutl'is` of` the nozzles are not shown- ,since such'. constructions.. may` vary withinwide limits.k ActuallyIV this may be.,a.chain Aconveyorconstructifm.with ,.piungers..

positioned and timedio lift and.lowerxthieincidal 25 at ,thestation where. the suction nozzles ,are located;

What Yis claimedis;

Apparatus .A for i the manuiacture i of .j chocolate shells comprising in combnation.with-open top,.,30

multiple cavityl molds conditioned 1 to congeal molten chocolate deposited thereirninto ;choco late shells containingiliquidichocoiateia static nl ary suction manifoldlsuction nozzles` dependent fold, suction pipe and suction tank for keeping thie-=choco1atefextracted by the nozzles in liquid state,--andmeans in the suction tank for effecting separation-z of liqlgidachocolate from air withdrawnibyithefvacuumpump,.including upper and "lowerw:chamberssinvsaid tank, a valved by-pass between". saidfi chambers, valved vents for said upveriand- ,lowenlchambers said vacuum pump being connected with said upper chamber, and a chocolate:removing pump connected with said lower chamber.

CLAUDEfJ r CQVERTi JClSlil-P-I'iiha..RtiFFli.ltluJimA RefenenceegCited v.i115 Ytheiiile-,fzof-.jtlziismpatenfti UNITEDESTATES f l-"ATENISI` Number Name Date 1,462,883 clomi- Juiyoa, A192i,` 1,932,931- Greer-et"al., Opt; 31,115,333? 1,973,778 Price if., Sept.' 18;,1934 2;0,23,'7,4-1f Moir Dec. 10,319,351, 2301,24@l Cloud 1 D 'eci 7";,1937'1 2;'212;863^ Hughes Aug. 27,11%@1 

